Hi everyone, I'm brand new to the art fair world and could use a bit of help. I think I made a big blunder by building my booth out of materials that are not flame retardant. I bought a spray on flame retardant and have my booth certified here in New Mexico but I'm not sure if other states will accept this, I'm thinking not. If any one knows of a company that will certify my materials nation wide or has any other ideas or advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
Replies
I've used this company's products. Not sure what states they are certified in...
http://www.flamestop.com/html/fr_i.html
Michael,
Not sure how to answer this one. What did you build the booth with? I am a jeweler, so all I required for my booth were my Canopy/tent, tables, coverings for tables, and this year I am adding floor covering and some Grid wall panels, for three sides. My tent was flame retardant when purchased a year ago, and my table coverings are also. I believe you may have to direct your question to a specific individual- my guess would be Connie Metler or Larry Berman. Hope this helps!
Karole
Any smokers come into my booth smoking, I squirt them with my handy fire extinguisher. It works every time; never had a fire yet.
Unfortunately, if you have a homemade booth, there is no way to certify the materials; each and every part would have to be inspected and passed - and no one really does that.
Talk to your local fire dept. and ask them what to do. Treating materials with boric acid works - until the next rain washes it off.
Standard booths, such as Lite-Dome, will send you a certificate of flame retardancy, if you buy their booths.
It's little consolation, but in 34 years and about 700 juried shows, I've never seen a wildfire sweep through a show. As to wind, well....
Thanks for the replies, My booth is actually a e-z up type and is flame retardant. The part I made, the inner walls, which are electrical conduit framing with stretched canvas between the framing. The canvas is the problem. I did in fact talk to the local fire marshal and he directed me to a local company that sold a flame retardant and will certify the canvas as flame retardant after it is applied. Their certification is good in New Mexico but maybe no where else. I also posted this in the newb section and got a reply from Larry and others. They didn't think I had to much to worry about. Interesting side note, I did make a flame retardant out of borax and boric acid, mixed it with a water repellent (just because I like to make stuff) and it works better than the $70 a gallon crap I had to buy to get certified and that will wash out if it gets wet. BS.
Here's a picture of my booth. And thanks again. -mike.
booth.JPG